That morning...*

I arrived at the auditorium at 7:30, ninety minutes before the competition began. The building was already buzzing with nervous energy: competitors setting up laptops, professors checking microphones, the murmur of anticipation filling every corner.

My hands wouldn't stop trembling.

Sophie had wanted to come, but I convinced her to stay home. I needed to do this alone. I needed to prove to myself, more than anyone else, that I could stand on that stage and defend my work withou